PoE Ethernet/USB HUB HAT for - Review

If you're someone who loves experimenting with Raspberry Pi development boards and want to streamline your setup, you might want to check out the PoE Ethernet/USB HUB HAT for Raspberry Pi Zero. This innovative product by Waveshare combines several features that make it an excellent choice for many developers.

The most significant advantage of the PoE/ETH/USB HUB HAT is the PoE (Power over Ethernet) feature. This means that you can provide both network connection and power supply to your Raspberry Pi through a single Ethernet cable. This feature is particularly useful if you're setting up a Raspberry Pi in a location where it's challenging to run a power cable and an Ethernet cable separately, such as a remote monitoring station.

Incorporating an 802.3af-compliant power supply, this HAT makes sure that you can use this feature with standard, off-the-shelf power-sourcing equipment. This makes it easy to set up and use, without worrying about compatibility issues.

Another feature that makes this HAT stand out is the fully isolated SMPS (Switch Mode Power Supply). This feature ensures that the Raspberry Pi is correctly protected from any electrical noise generated by the PoE feature. Isolation means that there is no electrical connection between the Raspberry Pi board and the PoE source and ultimately avoids any issues during operation.

The HAT also includes the RTL8152B Ethernet chip, with a 10M/100M auto-negotiation RJ45 port. This allows for a reliable and stable Ethernet connection for your Raspberry Pi. With the ability to deliver fast Ethernet connectivity, it can be used for a wide range of applications, from remote sensing to home automation.

Moreover, the PoE Ethernet/USB HUB HAT for Raspberry Pi Zero includes three extended USB 2.0 ports, which offer a considerable amount of flexibility in managing multiple USB peripherals. You can use these ports for connecting a range of devices, such as cameras, external storage devices, or even screens. It also supports the USB 2.0/1.1 standard.

Considering all the above features, it's clear that the PoE Ethernet/USB HUB HAT for Raspberry Pi Zero is a versatile and potentially game-changing product. But how does it perform in real-world scenarios?

Customers have generally been very positive about the product, giving it an average of 4.3 stars out of 5 on customer review platforms, with 11 reviews to date. Customers love the product's flexibility, and several mentioned that the Ethernet connectivity was robust and reliable.

One customer even suggested that the PoE Ethernet/USB HUB HAT had significantly improved their workflow by allowing them to control their Raspberry Pi devices more conveniently.

However, some customers have reported issues with the HAT's reliability, which could be due to a lack of compatibility or some bugs in the software or firmware. Nevertheless, the vast majority of customers seem to be happy with the product's performance and versatility.

Like all Raspberry Pi accessories, the PoE Ethernet/USB HUB HAT requires some knowledge of Raspberry Pi and Linux to set up correctly. Moreover, you'll need 802.3af-compatible power sourcing equipment to utilize the PoE feature. However, if you meet these requirements, this product could significantly simplify your work processes while providing a reliable and stable connection to your Raspberry Pi.

In conclusion, the PoE Ethernet/USB HUB HAT for Raspberry Pi Zero by Waveshare is a highly useful product that brings together two must-have features - PoE and USB - in one small package. Whether you're a maker, a developer, or just an enthusiast, this product has plenty of applications and could save a lot of hassle and time in your project setup.

PoE Ethernet/USB HUB HAT for

View Product Price